Working From Home vs Coworking
What actually changes when you stop working from your kitchen table.
The routine problem
When you work from home, there's no natural start or end to the day. You might sit down at your desk at 8am with good intentions, but you're also 10 seconds from your fridge, your sofa, and every domestic distraction going. And at the other end, there's no clear moment where work stops and your evening starts. You end up answering emails over dinner because your office is your kitchen table and there's nothing to signal that the day is done.
Having a separate workspace changes that. The commute, even if it's just a 15 minute walk, creates a boundary. You leave the house, you go to work, you come home. Your brain switches between modes because your environment changes. It sounds simple, but it makes a real difference to how you feel at the end of the day.
The isolation problem
Working from home can be isolating in a way that creeps up on you. At first it feels like freedom. No commute, no office politics, no small talk. But after a few months, you realise you're going days without speaking to another person face to face. Your social interactions are limited to Zoom calls, and those aren't the same thing at all.
This was one of the main reasons we started RedDeskCo. We weren't looking for a buzzy networking space or a place to make business connections. We just wanted to be around other people who were working. Having someone to say good morning to, making a coffee at the same time as someone else, or just being in a room where other people are getting on with their day. It's a small thing, but it has a significant impact on your wellbeing over time.
The cost comparison
Working from home has no monthly fee, but it's not free. Your energy bills go up noticeably when you're heating and lighting your home for an extra 8-10 hours a day. You need a proper desk and chair if you don't want back problems. You need reliable internet. If you're taking video calls from your bedroom or kitchen, you might need to invest in a background setup or find somewhere quiet in the house, which isn't always possible.
A desk at RedDeskCo is £225 per month with no VAT. That covers fast internet, air conditioning, a meeting room, showers, bike storage, a kitchen, tea and coffee, cleaning, and insurance. If you're spending even £80-100 a month extra on energy at home, plus the cost of coffee shops when you need to get out of the house, the gap between working from home and having a proper workspace is smaller than most people think.
When working from home works well
Working from home is genuinely great for some people. If you have a dedicated room that you can close the door on at the end of the day, if you're naturally disciplined with your time, and if you don't mind the solitude, then it can be the best option. It's also obviously the cheapest, which matters when you're just starting out or when money is tight.
But if you've been doing it for a while and you've noticed that your productivity has dropped, that your work-life balance has gone, or that you're feeling more isolated than you used to, it might be worth trying something different. A £100 trial month at RedDeskCo is a low-risk way to see whether a separate workspace makes a difference for you.
It depends on how well working from home is actually working for you. If you're productive, happy, and have a clear boundary between work and home, then it might not be necessary. But if your productivity, routine, or mental health is suffering, £225 a month for a proper workspace with everything included can be a worthwhile investment.
For most people, yes. Having a separate place to work means your home becomes your home again. The commute, even a short one, creates a clear line between work and the rest of your day.
Yes. RedDeskCo offers a £100 first month trial so you can see whether a coworking space works for you without a big financial commitment.
About a 5 minute walk. We're on Asylum Road in Peckham, SE15.